Abstract: A continuous, hybrid magnetic field gradient device for colloidal magnetic affinity separation having an axially-rotating horizontal glass tube, and a plurality of axially located repeating magnetic units. Each magnetic units consists of an alternating current solenoid that surrounds the chamber followed by computer-controlled electromagnets carrying a direct current. The on-off cycle of the electromagnets is used to control the residence time of target-bound magnetic particles in the chamber thereby allowing the separate collection of the particle and target rich fractions and the target-lean fractions without interrupting the feed flow. The azimuthally flowing alternating current in the solenoid introduces transient axial and radial forces as well as torque on the magnetic particles, promoting mixing.

Abstract: A magnetic focusing immunosensor for the detection of pathogens comprising a laser, an exciting fiber and a collecting fiber, a fiber optic magnetic probe in communication with the collecting and exciting fibers and means for detecting, collecting and measuring fluorescent signals in communication with the collecting fiber. The probe and the collecting and exciting fibers are configured to focus paramagnetic microspheres attached to antigen/antibody/optically labeled complexes in a predetermined pattern in the field of view of the collecting fiber while blocking background interference.

Abstract: A mode coupler that enables low-loss coupling between optical modes of two waveguides with different index difference. The mode size and the effective index are gradually changed between two waveguides to gradually transform the mode shape, size, and speed with minimum power loss. The mode coupler is useful for coupling the mode of an optical fiber waveguide with low index difference to the mode of a planar high index difference waveguide, and vice versa.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for developing films, particularly movie films, comprising a plurality of substantially vertical frames (1), for supporting and winding the film (3), placed within the different treatment rooms, each one of said frames (1) providing a plurality of transmission turns for the film, each one of said turns substantially comprising an upper pulley (2) and a lower pulley (4), and tensioning means of the film acting on the lower pulley (4), said apparatus being characterized in that said tensioning means of the film (3) in the single turns are comprised of piston means (11), provided under the lower pulley (4) of said turn, a single feeding system being provided for the piston means (11) of each frame (1).

Abstract: A high definition radar imaging system receives SAR image data and adaptively processes the image the data to provide a high resolution SAR image. The imaging technique employs an adaptive filter whose tap weights are computed based upon a constrained Maximum Likelihood Method (MLM). The MLM technique chooses the filter tap weights (i.e., a weighting vector &ohgr;) to satisfy several criteria including: 1) they preserve unity gain for a point scatter at the desired location, and 2) they minimize the perceived energy in the output image. The weights &ohgr; are constrained in norm ∥&ohgr;∥≦&bgr;, to reduce the loss of sensitivity to bright scatters. Significantly, the present invention applies an additional constraint on the iterative selection of the weighting vector &ohgr;, such that the weighting vector &ohgr; shall confined to a particular subspace in order to preserve background information in the image.

Abstract: The method and the apparatus specify that the acoustic useful signal is generated from a electrical useful signal, that an electrical listening signal determined by the acoustic useful signal and by an acoustic noise signal at the listening location be recorded, and from this the useful signal component contained therein be extracted. Then the useful signal component contained in the listening signal is compared with the listening signal itself, and the electrical useful signal is adapted in dependence on this.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a variable gain high frequency low noise amplifier (LNA) that receives a high frequency input signal and comprises a variable gain amplifier and a filter. The variable gain amplifier receives gain control signals that set the amount of gain applied to the input signal to create an amplifier output signal. The filter comprises passive components including inductors, capacitors and resistors. The filter also includes parasitic inductances provided by package leads and bond leads/wires. The variable gain amplifier includes a current steering mechanism that is responsive to the gain control signals, and sets the desired amplifier gain in response to the control signals by steering the input signal between a load and the filter. The filter is constructed from package leads, bond wires and dedicated on-chip components that overcome the lack of a precise on-chip RF ground to provide the requisite isolation between the input signal and the amplifier output signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the cultivation of chitin/chirosanrich, filamentous fungi with capacity to assimilate mannose as well as xylose, galactose, and glucose, wherein the cultivation of the filamentous fungi in a liquid medium extracted from wood in the production of paper whereupon the said filamentous fungi are recovered from the medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved lifting apparatus (1), particularly for lighting fittings and not, for shooting studios, comprising a pair of pantograph structures (2, 3), provided side by side, spaced and substantially parallel each other, provided above with coupling suspension means (7) and at the bottom with means (8) for coupling the fitting to be lifted, motorization means (10), to operate both said parallelogram structures, provided above, between said two parallelogram structures (2, 3), and coupling means to connect said motorization means with each one of said parallelogram structures, said apparatus (1) being characterized in that the upper and lower end arms (4) of each one of said pantograph structures are provided with teeth (12) meshing with corresponding teeth (12) provided on the corresponding arm of the same pantograph structure (2, 3).

Abstract: An electromagnetic wavelength filter that allows the transmission of electromagnetic energy within a narrow range of wavelengths while reflecting incident electromagnetic energy at other wavelengths. The filter includes at least one cavity region; and at least two reflectors surrounding the at least one cavity region, at least one of the reflectors being an omni-directional reflector. The omni-directional reflector includes a structure with a surface and an index of refraction variation perpendicular to the surface, and the omni-directional reflector is specifically configured to exhibit high omni-directional reflection for a predetermined range of frequencies of incident electromagnetic energy for any angle of incidence and any polarization.

Abstract: Described is a Schmitt trigger cell that can be disabled under conditions of unknown gate voltages (e.g., floating or toggling input) such that the core is isolated from the Schmitt trigger input. This is accomplished by circuitry that disables current flow through those transistors whose gate voltages are unknown during such conditions and that forces a known output onto the output terminal.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and a method for pulling an integrated circuit I/O pad to a known state and providing a current path between the pad and a source of potential during periods when an I/O voltage is likely to be floating. At least one I/O transistor coupled between the I/O pad and a source of potential is provided. Also provided is a combinatorial circuit connected to the I/O transistor to turn on the I/O transistor during periods that the I/O voltage is likely to be floating.

Abstract: A pulse-type beamforming apparatus, such as a radar array system, is used for receiving, detecting, localizing, and/or imaging desired signals. The apparatus is used to receive wideband chirp signals. The apparatus contains a receive aperture that is partitioned into multiple channels. The received signal at each channel is mixed with a replica chirp. The replica chirp is effectively delayed in a way that partially removes range-dependent distortion of desired signals. The mixer outputs are then sampled and filtered. The filters on each channel incorporate a time delay that completely removes the remaining range-dependent distortion for all signals in a desired direction. Signals are also compressed and integrated by a digital beamformer.

Abstract: Arrangements using air trench cladding enables minimization of the evanescent tail to suppress light coupling to radiation modes, resulting in low-loss bends and splitters. Structures including sharp bends and T-splitters without transmission loss, crossings without crosstalk, and couplers from/to fibers and with out-of-plane waveguides without substantial loss are provided with such air trench claddings. Air trench sidewall cladding of waveguides pushes evanescent tails toward top and bottom claddings to enhance coupling between vertically positioned waveguides. Fabrication processes using wafer bonding technology are also provided.

Abstract: A resonator system is disclosed for use in illuminating an input to a diffractive element. The system includes a source of an electromagnetic field having a wavelength of &lgr;, and first and second optical elements, each of which is at least partially reflecting. The first and second optical elements are separated from one another such that the optical path between the optical elements has a distance ( 2 ⁢ m + 1 ) ⁢ λ 4 , wherein m is an integer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a load-bearing vehicle roof of so-called sandwich construction, wherein the material layer included in the vehicle roof comprises polymeric materials, laminate materials and/or metal layers. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing such a vehicle roof. The load-bearing vehicle roof according to the invention comprises an outer cover layer (1), a core (3) and an inner cover layer (4) which together form a load-bearing structure. The load-bearing vehicle roof according to the invention is characterized in that at least one insulating layer (5) and/or a decorative layer (6), intended to be visible from a passenger compartment within a motor vehicle, is/are provided inside the inner cover layer (4), and that the insulating and/or the decorative layers (6) are provided as layers of the load-bearing vehicle roof before mounting onto the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sight for firearms, which sight comprises a sight house being applicable onto the upper side of a weapon and in this house a diopter provided unit turnably arranged around a horizontal axis, whereby a cylindrical sight unit is present in the sight house which sight unit comprises segmented extending diopter apertures turnably and horizontally arranged on a threaded bolt which runs between walls of said sight house.

Abstract: A golf bag for storing and carrying a standard set of (14) golf clubs and ancillary golf equipment and comprising a tubular housing (11, 12, 13, 14) in which is rotatably mounted a carousel (16, 17, 19) rotatable in upper and lower bearings within the housing. On the carousel clubs are mounted with their heads lowermost on a plurality of shelves (18) with their shafts located by clips (21) in individual flutes (20) in the carousel. The clubs are maintained in position within the housing and prevented from moving or clashing together. Access to the interior of the housing is by way of a hinged door (15), and the interior of the carousel provides a storage compartment. Housing the clubs with their heads lowermost lowers the centre of gravity of the bag, and a detachable carriage (38,39) and optional tractor unit (42) are provided.

Abstract: A rotating lamp fixture includes a plurality of lamps, attached to an arm which extends outwardly from a housing preferably mounted to the ceiling of a building. The arm is connected through a torque coupling and a gear train to the shaft of an electrical motor. The motor imparts a relatively slow circular or orbital motion to the lamps through the arm for serving as an artificial light source. The provision of a rotating light source reduces by at least one-third the number of fixed light sources needed for effectively controlling the growth of vegetation. The rotating lamp fixture increases the growth rate, improves the uniformity of growth, and/or precisely controls one or more other growth characteristics of the vegetation. Other features are also disclosed.